Wednesday, December 01, 2004, Gator Creek
Today, I took a group from my computer club, Digital Imaging Group, for a tour of Gator Creek. We started about 0830. The weather was cool and clear. A couple of the group are in wheel chairs and the paved Cypress Dome Trail was used. Overall it was quite with the animals today, but the group enjoyed the scenery. Afterward, several of the group walked the Gator Creek Loop. It was a good outing for the group. ....................... Herman

Monday, December 06, 2004, Circle B Bar
Today, I did an afternoon walk. Started at one o'clock. It was cool and clear. I walked toward the marsh. Did not see much until I arrived at the marsh. A small gator was laying on the trail at the edge of the marsh. I photo'ed it then walked throught the oak hammock. Saw some Pileated Woodpeckers, but could not get a photo of them. Was photoing a hole in a tree and noticed that wasps were going in and out of it. Saw a small Armadillo on the side of the trail. It did not run off and I took some photos of it. As I got near the lake, I saw an eagle in a tree on the lakeside. Got a couple of photos before it flew off. Took a few scene photos and a Great Blue Heron in a tree top. Got to the dock and photo'ed a lizard and several large gators in the lake. Also photo'ed an Anhinga swimming. Photo'ed Ibis, heron and spiders while walking along the lakeside. Stopped and sat several times. Photo'ed a buzzard in a tree out in the marsh. Walked away from the lake along the canal and marsh. Photo'ed several Green Heron and an Anhinga. Also got a Red-bellied woodpecker and a yellow flower. Saw a Tri-colored Heron fishing in the marsh and photoed it, then got a Downy Woodpecker in a tree. Did a scenic photo near the bridge and started across the marsh. I could see a gator laying across the trail. It was about a five footer. As I neared it, I could see three gators with two smaller ones near the larger one. Got a few photos of them. Near the horse trail and the main trail, I met a woman who was just getting started. Talked with her a bit, then walked out to the parking area. A good walk today with excellent weather. ......... Herman

Friday, December 10, 2004, Circle B Bar
Started the walk at 0750 today. It was overcast and warm. A cold front was approaching and rain was forcast, so I stayed fairly close. At the first pond I photo'ed a Great Egret. Then, I walked toward the marsh. Photo'ed another egret when I arrived at the marsh. There was a group of Wood Stork in the marsh pond. Photo'ed them and some Little Blue Heron and some Little Egrets. Got some photos of the Wood Stork flying. The wind was picking up as I crossed the marsh and sat a spell. Photo'ed a yellow flower at the edge of the trail. Also photo'ed some tiny blue flowers. In the area of the bridge across the marsh, photo'ed an Anhinga and a Green Heron. The wind was blowing the feathers of the Green Heron and it was fluffy. Started back across the marsh and photo'ed a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Tri-colored Heron. Got a Little Blue Heron in a clump of yellow flowers. A light rain had started and I got the rain gear out to cover the camera. Walked the horse trail toward the main trail. Photo'ed a yellow flower and a red leaf. Walked the main trail toward the parking area. The rain was very light and off and on. Photo'ed a white lilly at the edge of a pond. The weather was getting worse so, I walked on to the parking area. ................. Herman

Sunday, December 12, 2004, Circle B Bar
Started the walk at 0850 today. It was cold and clear. I started in and took the right hand trail to check the oaks. I saw a large hawk sitting on the power lines on SR 540. I then backtracked to the main trail and walked toward the marsh. At the third pond on the right, I saw a white lilly growing on the edge of the pond which was mostly dry. I went through the barbed wire fence and took close-ups of the lilly. On the marsh trail, met a man from Georgia who was here working on storm debri. Had a talk with him. At the marsh pond, I photo'ed Little Blue Heron, Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Anhinga and Wood Stork. There were many Wood Stork and they were flying around a lot. Got across the marsh and sat a while near the bridge. Started toward the lake and saw a Turkey Vulture (buzzard) sitting on a limb just off the trail. It was eating something. Photo'ed it. Continued on and photo'ed Tri-color Herons, Wood Stork, Ibis, Green Heron and spiders and white flowers. Was observing a Kingfisher when I heard a terrible racket. Could not see overhead well due to the trees, but two Sandhill Cranes flew overhead and landed in the marsh. Got several photos of them while they were flying. Also got more photos of the Kingfisher diving. Also photo'e an Eastern Phoebe and a Warbler that were flitting around in the trees. As I neared the lake, I saw a small turtle on a fallen tree in the canal. Photo'ed it. Got to the lake and walked toward the dock. Saw Little Blue Heron, Warblers, Ibis, Great Egret and others while walking. Saw two large hawks at the edge of the trail. They flew off and one of them had something in it's talons. I got to where they were and saw a Little Egret, dead. Got a photo of a Cormorant in a tree. I arrived at the dock and was drinking some water when I saw a Pileated Woodpecker in the oak tree hanging over the trail. It was just about 50 feet away. It was feeding and did not fly. I took many photos of it. Walked on out to the parking area. Photo'ed an Anhinga with it's wings spread. Met a man at the parking area. He was just starting his walk. Talked with him a while. ........... Herman

Friday, December 17, 2004, Crooked Lake Prairie
Tried a new trail today, Crooked Lake Prairie. It is another Polk Environmental Lands site located near Babson Park, south of Lake Wales on the east side of Crooked Lake. I arrived about 0930 and started the walk. Just inside the entry, I encountered a Scrub Jay and a Eastern Towhee ans well as some warblers. I started on the Scrub Trail. There were still a few trees across the trail, but they were easy to get around. This site is mostly sand, but it was still a bit wet. Photo'ed some scenes and spiders. The site is also full of prickly pear cactus. I swapped over to the Piney Wood Loop Trail and got into a flock of Pine Warblers. Had some good photo opportunities. Walked on down the trail which was now a road. Had an unmarked trail going to the lakeside and I took it. Sat a spell on the lakeside. Got a photo of a Kingfisher as it flew from a tree. Finally got to take off my jacket. The sun was out and it was getting warm. I had missed the Lookout Trail to an observation area. Photo'ed a Mockingbird on the trail. Continued on walking the road with some high grass between me and the lake. Saw a deer in the grass. Just got a photo if it's white tail as it bounded away. Photo'ed some Great Egret, Crow and a Loggerhead Shrike. Picked up the Prairie Pass Trail and followed it. Saw and photo'ed an Eastern Meadowlark on the trail. The trail looped to the lakeside and I got some photos of a little Egret. Also photo'ed another Mockingbird, a Phoebe and some more warblers. A Northern Flicker landed in a tree nearly next to me. Got a good photo of it. The trail deadended in some deep water at the lakeside. I backtracked and found another route around a large marsh. Got back to the start and took the other end of the Prairie Pass Trail. It deadended at the same deep water. It appeared that the trail used to connect, but the water had cut the trail. This was a good site. It had a good variety of scrub, pine, marsh and lakeside. I will walk it again. .................... Herman

Saturday, December 18, 2004, Audubon Christmas Bird Count
I did the Christmas Bird Count today. Had a good group and I was the new kid. Had two very experienced birders and one with several years behind him. Did not plan to take many photos, but wanted to observe and learn. Started at 0700 at Saddle Creek Park. We first drove to a site east of Eaton Park. Spotted several varieties of warbler here. Then went to Saddle Creek and walked the trail. Saw a bunch of birds. The most spectacular was the Cedar Waxwing. Got a good photo of them. Also photoed a Question Mark Butterfly. My only photos of the day. Saw how to call birds with pishing and with a recording of a Screech Owl. This area was full of Vultures. There is a roosting area near the entrance of the park. We took a short lunch break and then went to the west shore of Lake Parker. There was a large flock of White Pelicans on the lake. Saw Osprey flying overhead. We then drove to Auburndale and saw the Monk Parakeets that nest there. Went to the Central County Landfill on SR 540. Saw a lot of Bald Eagle and Vulture. Some gulls were circling when we arrived, but they had gone when we went to the top of the heap. Saw Purple Gallinule and Spotted Sandpiper and Snipe. Had a very interesting day. These folks worked me as I am not used to being on the move all day with no breaks. From daylight to sunset, we were on the move and looking for birds. I hope to do this again. ........................ Herman

Wednesday, December 22, 2004, Lakeland Highlands Scrub
Did a late start today at noon. It was cloudy, windy with the temp around 70. I walked to the pond and around it. It was very quite today. Took some scenes of the pond. Saw a large hawk as I approached the railroad trail. After passing the marsh, took a side trail to the south. Looped around and back to the main trail. While on the loop, I encountered a family of Scrub Jays. Watched and photoed them for a while. Continued on to the north and passed two other walkers. Got to the railroad trail but continued to the northmost trail as I had not been on it since before the storms. Got into several groups of small birds and photo'ed several of them. I think they are Yellow-rump and Palm Warblers. Today was a very nice day for a walk, but not many animals to photo. ............................... Herman

Friday, December 24, 2004, Circle B Bar
Christmas Eve morning, the wife is working and the daughter will not arrive until late in the afternoon so I walked. The weather was bad. It was cold and wet. Not raining but a very lite drizzle. I started the walk about 0830. Took a few scenes, some egret in the ponds, a small bird that I have not yet id'ed and an Eastern Phoebe. Walked to the marsh, but did not cross over, walked through the oak hammock to near the lake, cut over to the north trail and then back to the parking area. It started to drizzle heavy before I got in. It was only about 10. I drove east on SR540 a short distance to the ponds on the north side of the road. There were three Roseate Spoonbills in the near pond. I photo'ed them. Several Sandhill Cranes were futher back in the ponds. Had to stop due the the bad weather. .......................... Herman

Monday, December 27, 2004, Circle B Bar
Did not get started until about 0900 this morn. The weather was cold, but clear. Had to wear gloves to keep my hands warm. Started out with a Pileated Woodpecker at the start of the trail. Got several photos of it. Walked on to the marsh and got a Robin in a tree. Then I saw what looked like a hawk at the top of a tree in the marsh. It was a Krestel. Got several photos of it. Could easily see the bands on the face. Walked across the marsh and then toward the lake. Photo'ed Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis and about anything that moved. Also got a Yellow Rump Warbler. As I neared the lake, I noticed a disturbance in the water. It was a very large otter. I watched it eat a fish, but could not get a photo as it was hidden by the bushes. It climbed up on a tree stump and I got a fair photo of it. It was as big as a seal. Two ladies were walking toward me and I tried to point it out to them, but it had disappeared. The ladies told me that they had seen a family of raccoon on the lake side. Did not see it again. Continued walking and photoing. Got more Herons, egrets, Ibis and warblers. Still trying to get a good id on some of them. Got near the old spillway and unfolded the chair and sat a spell. Continued walking. Got an Anhinga with it's wings spread and it's back to me and an Eagle flying overhead. Then, I saw the raccoons. They were on the lake side walking toward me. I was able to bet a photo of the adult, then the two young ones. It was starting to get warm and I could finally remove my jacket. Had a good variety today. Still trying to id some of the warblers. Did not get back to the parking area until nearly 2. Checked the ponds on SR540 but no spoonbills were present. ................. Herman

Friday, December 31, 2004, Circle B Bar
Started this morning at 0900. Before starting I checked the pond on SR540 and three Spoonbills and two Sandhill Cranes were present. Got several photos of them and a Yellowlegs. It was very nice today, cool and clear and just a bit windy. Saw a group of Robins just inside the entry and photo'ed them. Photo'ed a Great Egret in the first pond and a Phoebe in a tree. Got to the marsh and photo'ed a Great Egret in the pond and an Anhinga in a tree. Got to the bridge and walked to the west. Saw a very large black water snake sunning on a limb and got a photo of it's head. Walked toward the lake and saw the usuall herons, egrets and warblers. Also robins. Got some good photos of several Red-bellied Woodpeckers and a Belted Kingfisher hovering. Near the lake several small gators were on logs in the marsh and two young raccoons were walking toward me. Got photos of them. Also got some Wood Stork. Got into a lot of Warblers as I arrived at the lake and stopped a while to photo. A family caught up to and passed me. Talked with them briefly. I sat a spell on the lakeside. The wind was a bit stronger and I wished that I had brought my long sleeve shirt with me. Continued on around the marsh toward the dock. Photo'ed Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Saw an eagle fly overhead. Got to the dock and sat a bit again. Continued on via the Oak Hammock. Saw and photo'ed a buzzard in a tree on the lakeside. After I crossed the ditch, I took a detour around the oak trees on the south side of the trail. Photo'ed a butterfly, Great Egret and flowers. got a wasp on one of the flowers. As I neared the horse trail, got into another bunch of Robins. Walked the horse trail to the main trail and then toward the entry. Photo'ed a Swamp Lilly near the new bench. Close to the entry saw a bright red Cardinal and got several photos of it. Very good day for a walk. In addition to the family, I met several other groups of people walking or jogging. .................. Herman